What a week…

My blood ran cold this morning when I read Anna Scott Graham’s account of her story being pirated on Amazon. It’s a timely warning for us all. Anna is a wonderful person and it’s just an awful thing to happen. I really hope she can get to the bottom of it very soon.

Yesterday, Kate (4amwriter) put a big smile on my face when I read her new blog – Bloggers Between the Covers. It contains information about books fellow bloggers have published. What an exciting concept!

On the weekend the RUC put on her bonnet, thanks to all those hard working roofers that worked all weekend so she wouldn’t get soaked through. The weather is still behaving itself, but only until this afternoon (apparently). For reasons that would take an hour to explain the technical difficulties I’ve had recently – I don’t have a picture of the roof yet 😦

I asked one of the builders how old he thought the RUC was. He told me to look at the glass in the windows. He said he’d only seen that glass once before when he moved a 130 year old school house. Because the windows are actually above the French doors, I hadn’t taken a good look at the glass. It’s amazing!

The windows above the doors (yes – it still needs a clean and paint)

Take a close look at the pattern on this beautiful glass!

Then last week, part of my salad jumped off my plate and landed on the wall. I love fresh salad…but not this fresh

Short and sweet for this week.

Between fixing up the RUC, catching up with blogs and chasing Godzilla grasshoppers out of the kitchen, I’m pretty busy.

Dianne,
That glass is gorgeous. Hope it is strong enough to keep out those cat-sized grasshoppers!. Maybe a dog is a good idea to keep the grasshoppers out. Glad you got the roof on before the rain.
The story about Anna Scott Graham’s short story is shocking. Seems like a whole new form of plagiarism/robbery.
{{{Hugs}}} kozo

I just went over to Amazon and left a comment. Why would someone do this? It’s awful…

I truly love the glass – it looks like pandana or stars. It hasn’t been washed yet so I was surprised the picture turned out so well. The roof looks great, but I’ve had internet problems for the past few days and can’t upload the pictures 😦 But I’m glad it’s on now because the ex-tropical cyclone is supposed to hit tonight 😯

I couldn’t believe the size of that grasshopper! It looks like it could eat me!

You and the critters in your houses!! So glad the RUC has a new roof, and I love that glass. I thought I had a beautiful window in our bathroom, but I finally realized there was some type of adhesive (like a contact paper, but it allows light in) over the window to create a design with a non-see-through look. Duh! Thank you for the link to Bloggers Between the Covers. I’m not reading fast enough, but am still trying to read WP authors this year.

That’s horrible about the pirating! Who would do such a thing? Nice of you to leave a review on Amazon about it. I went and clicked that the reviews were helpful. Hopefully the author can get that taken care of. Her frustration must be enormous.

I don’t know who did this, or where the money goes if any of the books sell, Carrie. What a horrible thing to happen. Thanks so much for clicking on the helpful review link. I’m sure Anna appreciates all the support she’s getting from fellow authors. We’re a tight bunch 😀

I probably could write a children’s picture book, Justin 😀 I haven’t squashed him, and that’s always a good thing 😀 I actually hate hurting anything and gently carried two dragonflies out of the house the other night (I hope they don’t bite!) I should have a got pictures of them as well. The RUC will definitely have screens (the place we’re living at the moment isn’t screened so we get all sorts of creatures dropping in).

How did you go with your pirated articles? Did you ever find the culprit(s)? Was there a resolution? Am I asking too many questions?

Love your last question. You’re so funny. 🙂 Without hijacking this comment stream, yeah, I got them sorted. I used my pen (keyboard) rather than a sword. Although, I was tempted to use a shamshir (I like its curves).

So glad the roofers put the “bonnet” on the RUC. And the glass is beautiful! I have always loved the charm of old dwellings. Around here, stained-leaded glass can be found in a lot of the older homes. I love your photos! Keep ’em coming! But I will never understand how you live with all the strange critters!

I really hope that writer presses charges if they find out who did it. That’s just a shame. I know how it feels.
On a brighter note, that is a lovely little detail on those windows. Looks like one hundred tiny daisies dancing about.
That grasshopper would’ve scared the pee outta me, though!

It happened to me when I was a teenager (& very inexperienced/naive about my rights). They stole some of my art & said it was theirs. A few years later it happened with a short film some friends and I put up on YouTube. A hacker somehow got a hold of it & put it up on another website claiming it was theirs. That time we got that person in some deep…ahem….trouble, though. I later decided not to pursue it. I actually felt bad for the sick individual. They were clearly mentally disturbed.

My writing…that’s a different story, though. My writing is my entire life & if someone was to steal that – I would definitely take it to court in a heartbeat.

Thanks so much for sharing these stories. We’re learning every day in this blogging world and I’m pretty sure I’m still rather naive about my rights in some aspects of my writing. We live and learn and when these things happen to us we can be sure of one thing – we’re not alone…

Precisely. & Anytime, Dianne! When I speak with you and friends like Maddie over @breezybooks, Kozo, Sofia, and so many other wonderful others..I often feel like we’re sitting together having a coffee or tea/whatever together! I’ve told Maddie this before.
You’re all just like close friends & it doesn’t matter to me that we’ve never met face to face.

Fresh meat in your salad?
That glass is the work of true artisans, probably priceless. If a pane ever gets broken you’ll have a tough time replacing it.
Thanks for sharing Anna’s story. It’s a wake up call.

Anna only publishes on Smashwords and her books are free. I don’t know who’s done this or where the money goes if it’s sold. My thinking is that someone names themselves as the author and puts their banking details up there to reap the benefits. Ratbags…

I was actually only going to write about the new roof today and I got waylaid with a million other things. LOL – the story of my life 😀

The window is very pretty indeed. There are a few of them in the house that I need to take out so I can sand back the frames – I’m not feeling very confident about it because I’m so incredibly clumsy! 😯

Methinks I’m going to be waiting with baited breathe for each new development on the RUC.

Love the art glass window. When I was young my parents owned a small hardware store in Milwaukee Wisconsin. They did not sell textured glass, though they did sell the regular clear stuff. The hardware wholesaler gave my father a pattern sample box from Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. The box was small, maybe 8 x 4 x 6 and it was filled with 4 x 4 pieces of their textured glass. I was in second grade when they were forced to sell the store, having fallen on hard times. So, I guess that made me about 7 yrs. When the store was auctioned off no one bid on the sample box, so it came to live with us in our new home. I used to play with those pieces of glass for hours…. arranging them in patterns as if they were jigsaw puzzle pieces.

Lovely memories, those….

I’m glad your house is shaping up. I’ll pass on the giant anythings. Whether weird bugs or weeds. You can keep ’em.

Good thinking to put the reviews on there. I’ve had two of my books pirated onto Amazon, even though I’d done the same thing as Nicky Charles. They took mine off of Feedbooks and slightly changed the titles, even comically adding a ‘volume two’ to one of my stories, but I never thought of doing reviews like that. I did write to Amazon’s legal department and they removed the pirated copies. I’m sure they’d do the same for you.

I’m sure Anna would be glad to hear that Amazon listened to you, and hopefully they’ll listen to her and remove the book. Thank you so much so coming over and telling your story. Apparently this sort of thing goes on more than we realise. I’m so glad it worked out for you 😀

You don’t like my salad, Bonnie? It’s very ‘fresh’ LOL 😉 Thank you for wishing me a good (less eventful) week – I’m hoping just to get stuck into the RUC, take some more pictures and avoid creepy crawly, jumping, slithering, hopping things… 😀

We had a dog for almost 18 years, a border collie called Tosh. It was like losing a member of the family when he died so we didn’t get another dog. Dogs give you unconditional affection and unlike children, they don’t answer back! :-). I hope you have many happy years with your dog. Our son was nine when we got Tosh as a puppy and they were lifelong mates.

Wow, the RUC has a bonnet, and in time for Easter:-) Hooray! Beautiful glass indeed, and the freshness in your salad is quite something! May the weather continue to behave…and look forward to a bonnet photo soon.

YAY – the RUC is wearing her Easter bonnet! You’ll notice I’m starting to call the RUC ‘her’ – even though it was a Rugby Union Club it has a very feminine ‘feel’ about it. I’m not sure what it is, but there doesn’t seem to be anything manly about it in the least! She’s looking very pretty at the moment 😀

It’s going to have vermin proofing in the ceiling and screen doors all the way around, Roy. The place we are staying in now while we’re waiting for the RUC is modern, but it doesn’t have screens. YIKES – every type of bug can fly in and I can’t just close the windows because it’s too hot. I like the fact that the RUC will be high off the ground as well (no chance for snakes) 😉

I’m not sure how they would have made this glass, Jess, and I wonder as well! I just need to make sure I don’t break any while I’m sanding the frames because I don’t think I’ll find any like that to replace it 😉

Yikes, I can’t believe someone would actually copy a story and blatantly sell it on Amazon under their own name. That just seems so ridiculous.
That glass looks really pretty. And… a grasshopper in your salad? I think I would’ve fainted. I absolutely don’t like insects that fly or jump!

Do an Amazon check as well, Rick, that’s what Anna did. I did one yesterday as well. I remember last year someone at Amazon had my books for sale for $280 ea (WTF!?) I’m guessing no one bought them, but I contacted Amazon and told them these people weren’t official ‘sellers’ for me and they soon disappeared…

The painting is done. The cabinets and counter/sink has been ripped out of the kitchen. Flooring is being planned for later in the week. It’s getting there but it’s slow. I will be over there again Saturday and hope to see major improvement.

Holy smokes! Last time I saw a grasshopper that big was in Florida. The tour guide fed it to an alligator I think. I might run screaming from the room if that thing jumped out of my salad. Or at least fall over onto the floor. Dang. Off to read about the amazon pirate.

WHAT?! Holy smokes, everything is bigger down there. I will always remember your spider story, in my head it is turning into that spider from Lord of the Rings…though not quite that big 🙂 but the web is getting ropier and ropier, like a tennis net. haha

The glass is absolutely beautiful! Glad your roof is up – will look forward to seeing its picture at some point. Sounds like you’re happily busy and the old RUC (I can see by the pictures and your words) is now definitely HOME! Happy for you…

Piracy on Amazon! Anna must be heart-sick! Hope she finds the culprit and the truth!

Julie and I await some information relative to a possible move back to Tennessee (my home state). Whether you want them or not, my adopted and unmet friend (at least, formally), I will keep you posted as developments occur… It’s my wanderlust, that messed-up wiring inside, that keeps me looking over the next hill. With this beach, this constant sun and the Sea of Cortez, I must really be bonkers. Thank goodness I have a patient and caring wife who understands me so well… Long answer, but the week goes relatively well Just to be a bratty tease, we are to be around 80 degrees F today. The sky is powdery blue, and the Sea – calm and tranquil. (If the Tennessee move comes, I know that I will miss these sunny beach days — but, then, Tennessee has its beauty as well, its lakes, its rolling hills, its lovely ‘down to earth’ folks…) If we go, guess I’ll have to event a sunshine room for the rain occasions… Please psychoanalyze me, Dianne!!! 🙂 .

Love that glass. I knew that about windows and such because my mother is into antiques and histories of old houses. Window with irregularities like waves means it’s old old old! I guess windows and people are a lot alike. 🙂

Lovely critter there. I would have gone bonkers!

Thanks for the shout-out, Dianne. That was really nice to mention my post. 🙂

It was a pleasure to mention your post, Kate. I hope you’ve had a few authors come over for a visit 😀

I’m glad you understand about the glass. Apart from the fact that the entire building is silky oak and the architecture is pre WWI, it’s the only real thing I’ve got to put an age on it. I’m trying to research its history, but it’s not easy and I’ve become obsessed trying to find out (LOL) 😉

The entire house is beautifully crafted. Even the builders (who move these type of houses all the time) have been surprised by the way the house is put together and the amount of detail that has gone into it – that makes me very happy 😀

Dianne, I’m going to offer you a deal: if you come to Sweden, my home is your home. If I come to Australia, your home is mine?? (But I can do without the live protein in my salad) Your new home is set to be fantastic!

Wow, the pattern on that glass is stunning, and in amazing condition if it’s 130 years old!

What happened to Anna’s book is really creepy, I’d heard of cases of free, or even paid books being placed around the web and charged for. I understand that when you get to a certain level of popularity your works will be pirated and shared for free, but at least there’s potentially a promotional kick back there haha. But someone selling you’re free books is just wrong.

I finished The Everything Theory last night, I loved it 🙂 I’ll post my review on Saturday on my blog and then I’ll copy it to all the stores and Goodreads. Also I’d love to do any author interview with you for my blog, let me know what you think 🙂

So happy for you, Dianne. Glad they got the roof on before the rain. That glass is really lovely, and does look very old indeed. Thanks for showing me that huge grasshopper. Rather your kitchen than mine. 😯

The glass is gorgeous. I know it seems like it’s probably been ages in the making and with lots of things along the way, but I think you are so lucky to have your very own RUC, especially in that gorgeous spot. Have a great weekend.

The glass is fabulous… what a treasure the RUC is with its remnants of the past still intact for you to caretake 🙂
I read Anna Scott Graham’s post… I would like to read her book, but not the pirated version. My new phone and Smashwords are not gettig along at the moment but I will sort it soon. Very generous of Anna to give them away on Smashwords.
So great you were included on Bloggers Between The Covers.
I’m fond of grasshoppers but not in my food…
And you may remember I mentioned my public servant friend who is experiencing professional issues. Thanks to you, I mentioned the Merit Protection Commission to her, and who she hadn’t heard of but will now be consulting as she’s just gone on Workers Comp due to the stress of it all. So, you’ve helped someone else by sharing your terrible experience.
I hope work on the RUC is proceeding in good weather and at a cracking pace 🙂

I think I have the same glass… there are 3 panes of it in my old Hoosier cupboard, which belonged to my great grandparents…. I am thinking late 1800’s or so….. I don’t think I can post a picture in a comment here so if you want to see it I could email it to you. It sure looks similar….
contact me at ruthcrates@gmail.com if you want to take a look